B.C. Lions Emmanuel Arceneaux (84) pretends to drink out of a fans cup after scoring a touchdown against the Edmonton Eskimos during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday September 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
For the second time in five games, Emmanuel Arceneaux has collected CFL Player of the Week honours. This time, it comes on the heels of a stellar outing against Edmonton where he hauled in eight catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns to help propel the BC Lions to a crucial 32-25 victory. The second major was vintage Manny as he fended off at least two Eskimo defenders and found the end zone on a 70-yard catch and run. It was the Lions’ longest play from scrimmage so far this season.
“My thing is just to get the guys around me to follow my lead,” Arceneaux said of his highlight-reel night. “I just try to lead by example. It ain’t about me. It’s the guys around me that’s getting me open. You can’t just cover everybody. It’s the pizza theory, everybody get a piece and when you’re number is dialled you’ve got to be ready to make a play.”
In two games against the green and gold this season, Arceneaux has amassed 296 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Saturday’s victory keeps Arceneaux and company very much in the hunt for second in the West and a home date for the Western Semi-Final on November 13th. They close out the regular season with two games against the 5-11 Saskatchewan Roughriders, starting Saturday in the last- ever contest at old Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s not the same team as 11 or 12 weeks ago,” Arceneaux said of the last place Riders. “You want to enter the playoffs with a spark. It’s not about records, it’s about which team can get hot at the right time.”
The Lions and Roughriders will then close out the regular season at BC Place on Saturday, November 5th, presented by Nissan. It is a 4:00 kickoff.
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com